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ATHENA Trial: Background<br />Atrial fibrillation (AF) impairs patients’ lives, leading to increased risks of cardiovascular complications.<br />Over the course of 20 years of clinical drug trials in AF no drug has demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of cardiac death. <br />ATHENA set out to evaluate the effect of Multaq® (dronedarone), a multi-channel blocker with anti-adrenergic properties, on a composite primary endpoint of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization in patients with AF.<br /> JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008<br />

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ATHENA Trial: Dronedarone<br />Dronedarone (Multaq®) manufactured by Sanofi-aventis is a new multi-channel blocker that affects the calcium, potassium and sodium channels and has anti-adrenergic properties. <br />Unlike amiodarone, this drug does not contain iodine radical and hence does not result in adverse effects on thyroid and lung functions.<br /> JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008<br />

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ATHENA Trial: Inclusion Criteria Cont.<br />Availability of one 12-lead ECG within the last 6 months, indicating prior or current AF/A flutter<br />Access to a second 12-lead ECG within the last 6 months showing prior or current SR<br />Copyleft Clinical Trial Results. You Must Redistribute Slides<br />JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008<br />

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ATHENA Trial: Other Outcomes<br />Death from arrhythmias was reduced by 45% (p=0.01) when patients were treated with Multaq® (dronedarone).<br />Multaq® (dronedarone) demonstrated a lower risk of pro-arrhythmia than placebo and no excess of hospitalizations for congestive heart failure.<br />The rate of study drug discontinuation was similar between the two study arms.<br />Copyleft Clinical Trial Results. You Must Redistribute Slides<br />JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008<br />

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ATHENA Trial: Limitations<br />Future trials should consider patients under 75 years of age without additional cardiovascular risk factors and those with decompensated heart failure.<br />The exclusion of these patients from this study limits the applicability of the results.<br />JCE 2008; 19.1/Heart Rhythm 2008<br />